Shocking news, I know, but here it is:

Dr Rowan Williams said they needed to be more concerned with providing places to disadvantaged children than “securing our membership”.

In an address to the General Synod, the Church’s parliament, on Saturday, the archbishop said that its schools need to be “open for as many children as possible”.

[……]

“How, in the context of far-reaching changes to how education is delivered in this country, do we continue to offer what we have always offered?” he said.

“Which is not a system of confessional schools designed to secure our membership, but a critical partnership with the state that seeks to keep open for as many children as possible the fullest range imaginable of educational enrichment.

“Our history as educators in this country is much to do with offering possibilities in social contexts where other providers have practically given up or have settled for less than the best.”

Today no confessional schools, tomorrow no confessional seminaries, next week no confessional churches. But all offering possibilities in social contexts.